Landfill liquidation

The landfill owner, Zabrze commune, consequently initiated a procedure of decommissioning the pesticide landfill in September 2004. The area was to be reclaimed for planned residential use. Land contamination had to be remediated in accordance with the Ordinance of the Minister of the Environment dated 9 September 2002 on soil quality standards (Dz.U. No 165, item. 1359). The subject matter of control of contaminant contents in the soil and land referred to the following pesticides: a-HCH,  b-HCH, g-HCH, aldrin, dieldrin, endrin and DDT/DDE/DDD.

This Ordinance prescribes standards of land and soil, taking into account its present and planned uses, for the following groups of land types:

• Group A (real estate, areas subject to protection based on provisions on protection of the natural environment),

• Group B (areas classified as agricultural), and

• Group C (industrial, mining or communication areas).

The landfill decommissioning process was carried out by a specialist contractor chosen in accordance with Polish Law on Public Contracts. The process of decommissioning started at the beginning of November 2004 and was completed by the end of December 2004.